Kansas City Chiefs RB Jerick McKinnon is the purveyor of sage wisdom in the team’s running back room. This past weekend, McKinnon played a big part in the team’s victory, but he also imparted some of that wisdom to one of his young teammates during a trying moment in the game.
The ninth-year veteran, McKinnon, has fumbled just four times in his NFL career. When rookie RB Isiah Pacheco had his latest fumble against the Houston Texans in the second quarter of Week 15, McKinnon did his part in uplifting Pacheco on the sideline.
“I just told him to keep his head up,” McKinnon said. “We’re all human. Millions of players fumble on offense. I’ve fumbled on offense. My message to him was, ‘bounce back.’ The great ones respond. I definitely think he has the ability to be great in this league. That was my message. Keeping it human. We’re all human. We make mistakes, but the great ones respond. Show me you’re great. He always answers, man. He brings so much energy. The guys, we love him.”
This isn’t the first fumble that the rookie Pacheco has had to bounce back from. He responded to that first one by putting up one of his best rushing performances of the season.
After his fumble in Week 15, Pacheco didn’t touch the ball again until the third quarter, but he made every touch in the third and fourth quarter count. He posted nine carries for 51 yards and one catch for 11 yards after his fumble. He took McKinnon’s advice and responded in kind after his error.
